A Chair with a Calling
Announcing the "Seat a Saint" Campaign for the R.G. Lee Chapel
At Baptist University of Florida (BUF), we understand that the calling to train the next greatest generation of Christian leaders goes beyond the classroom. It must include an environment that cultivates unwavering conviction and fosters spiritual resilience for the cultural challenges our students face.
For decades, the physical heart of this spiritual formation has been the Robert G. Lee Chapel.
Built in 1958 and last renovated in 2000, this historic space—named for the legendary pastor R.G. Lee—is where our university family gathers every Tuesday and Wednesday. It is a place of great spiritual challenge, where faculty, local pastors, and invited guests lead us in worship and inspiration.
A Growing Family, A Limited Space
However, a critical challenge has emerged. As God continues to bless BUF, our student body is growing rapidly. We are now in the inspiring, yet challenging, position where the R.G. Lee Chapel can no longer accommodate everyone.
The current facility simply does not meet the needs of our expanding community. We are literally running out of room to gather as we are equipped to Advance God’s Kingdom. We cannot allow limited seating to become a distraction or a barrier to the spiritual growth of a single student.
350 New Points of Impact
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the "Seat a Saint" campaign — an urgent fundraising initiative to renovate and expand the seating capacity of the R.G. Lee Chapel.
Our highest priority for this project is the installation of 350 new, modern seats. This is more than just a logistical update; it is a spiritual investment. By providing a comfortable and accommodating space, we are ensuring that every student has a dedicated place to encounter truth, engage in worship, and deepen their walk with Christ.
Furthermore, our goal is to raise enough funds to not only purchase the seats but also provide the necessary "cushion" for a complete interior renovation—including painting, flooring, and lighting—to restore this sacred space to a standard of excellence.
Seated to be Sent
Your investment in the "Seat A Saint" campaign has a direct, eternal outcome. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, a "Saint"— a BUF student — will be seated in the chair you provided.
In that seat, they will be discipled, challenged, and inspired. They will grow into Steadfast Christian Leaders, equipped to step out of that chapel and boldly advance God’s Kingdom in the mission field, the marketplace, the schoolhouse, or the church. By seating a student today, you are preparing a leader for tomorrow.
Join the Movement
We invite you to find your place in this mission. We have established four giving levels to help you connect your passion with this project:
$25 | Join the Campaign Add your support to the foundation of this renovation and help prepare the room for a move of God.
$150 | Half a Seat Partner with another donor to ensure a place is ready for a student to hear from God.
$300 | Seat a Saint (Our Primary Goal) Fully fund the purchase and installation of one seat, providing the "cushion" for the full renovation and establishing a direct legacy.
$1,000 | Shepherd’s Circle Lead the way in our campus’s spiritual growth, honoring the legacy of leadership that has defined the R.G. Lee pulpit since 1958.
Will you join us in preparing the room for the next generation of Christian leaders?